MUNGBEAN (VIGNA-RADIATA L WILCZEK) CONTAINS SOME HIGH PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITIES ALREADY BEFORE GERMINATION

When casein was used as a substrate, mungbean seeds had higher protein ase activity levels based on g fresh weight or on mg protein before ge rmination than after germination. While hemoglobin was used, the same was observed as based on g fresh weight but the opposite was observed as based on mg protein. Carboxypeptidase activities toward Hip-His-Leu or Hip-Arg at pH 7.5 based on g fresh weight were also higher before germination than after germination, but activity toward Hip-Arg based on mg protein before germination was lower than after germination. Bef ore germination, when 4-nitroanilides were used, Gly Na and Phe-Na wer e hydrolyzed most rapidly at pH 3.4. Gly-Na, Phe-Na, Ala-Ala-Ala-Na, a nd Ala-Ala-Phe-Na were hydrolyzed most rapidly at pH 7.0. Gly-Na and g amma-Glu-Na were hydrolyzed most rapidly at pH 8.9. When beta-naphthyl amine derivatives were used, Phe-Nap, Leu-Nap, and Lys-Nap were hydrol yzed most rapidly at pH 3.4 while Leu-Nap and Phe-Nap were hydrolyzed most rapidly at pH 7.0. Lys-Nap, Gly-Nap, and Ben-Arg-Mx-Nap were hydr olyzed most rapidly at pH 8.9. After germination, when 4-nitroanilides were used, Gly-Na, Phe-Na, Ala-Ala-Ala-Na, and Ala-Ala-Phe-Na were hy drolyzed most rapidly at pH 3.4. Gly-Na and Phe-Na were hydrolyzed mos t rapidly at pH 7.0. Gly-Na was hydrolyzed most rapidly at pH 8.9. Whe n beta-naphthylamine derivatives were used, Phe-Nap, Leu-Nap, and Lys- Nap were hydrolyzed most rapidly at pH 3.3 and 7.0. Lys-Nap and Gly-Na p were leading substrates at pH 8.9. Mungbean enzymes hydrolyze deriva tives of 4-nitroaniline and beta-naphthylamine of amino acids and pept ides differently at various pH values.